To start the new year off, Happy New Year.
The National Archives in London, one of the best sources for info on WW1 Africa, is looking for some feedback on its new advanced ordering system – if you have a couple of free minutes before 15 Jan, please can you help:
As part of some research into advance orders, our webteam have established a Treejack survey to try and better understand where people would look for the service and information. It involves 2 tasks and a few questions so should be quite quick to do. It does not matter how familiar people are with TNA or whether they have used the advance orders service.
The link is https://National-Archives.optimalworkshop.com/treejack/f7w2d503
A sad report on a memorial in South Africa
And another sad story of a soldier who lost his life helping save someone in the Thames. Thanks to Peter Dickinson for this one.
Not all uniforms and parades – Charles Stoneham, Legion of Frontiersmen
Quarterly Army Lists (1913-1919) have been scanned by the National Library of Scotland
Quarterly Naval Lists (1913-1921) have also been scanned by the National Library of Scotland
Both lists have been added to the bibliography
On curating a World War 1 Africa exhibition by Yewande Okuleye
The story of Jackie, the baboon
Oliver Schulten has updated his Bibliography which can be found along with other sources of info under Resources.
There is a new coffee table book out at the end of the month looking at Allied Muslim involvement in World War 1. The aim is to introduce new audiences to the war and its global nature. It tells the story of those who served – no politics. Little known theatres such as Africa, China and Russia are included.
This is looking to be an exciting year on the publication front for GWAA. Providing all goes to plan, the last of the chronology of The Lake Tanganyika Expedition should be out – the last stray documents have been transcribed and double checking is underway.
William Endley’s book South Africa at War: The Union Defence Force in World War 1 should be out by April. This tells the story of the South African units using William’s personal collection as the basis. This book has special significance as it is being published whilst William is in captivity in Sudan. Publication is at his request. Some will have seen snippets on Facebook which he posted at intervals. And I can say from editing the publication, that it’s going to be a very useful resource for a variety of researchers.
A commemorative book is in production for the end of the war in Africa. If you have any contributions, please send them to me by April – the publication will include a chronology of the last days (11 November through to 25 November and the Germans leaving in early 1918) as well as a contribution by the King’s African Rifles and East African Forces Association.
For people wanting to join in the commemorative events in Zambia in November, please contact Claire who can advise on itineraries which fit in with the big event on 25 November.
And finally, the long-awaited conference publication should be making its appearance: a bumper edition.
For regular visitors, you will have noticed that the tabs at the top of the page have changed. Hopefully this makes it easier to find things. Information will be added as it is available – please send in contributions and any feedback you might have. This is a resource for all interested in aspects of World War 1 in Africa.
